Toys

News about Toys, including commentary and archival articles published in The New York Times.

Chronology of Coverage

Jul. 16, 2015

Shoppers flock to F A O Schwarz on Fifth Ave to take pictures and buy souvenirs on iconic toy store's final day of business. MORE

Jul. 11, 2015

McDonald's responds to complaints that its new Happy Meal toys based on animated film Minions make noises that sound like curse words, insisting that sounds are not meant to be profane or offensive. MORE

Jun. 4, 2015

Huggable the teddy bear is a social robot prototype that is being tested at Boston Children's Hospital to see if it has therapeutic value for children who have long hospital stays; device, essentially a high-tech puppet, was developed at MIT's Media Lab. MORE

Jun. 3, 2015

Walt Disney Co introduces new toy line called Playmation that seeks to use wireless technology, motion sensors and wearable technology to encourage more active play by children; observers say line could help strike balance between digital interests of children and parents who would prefer play that forces children to run around. MORE

May. 28, 2015

Millennials lament impending closure of FAO Schwarz, iconic Manhattan toy store that for many was a touchstone of childhood wonder; store has been owned since 2009 by Toys R Us, which has so far not made specific plans for a new location. MORE

Apr. 26, 2015

Robot Factory is first in Tinybop's planned suite of digital apps aimed at children. MORE

Apr. 20, 2015

Apr. 10, 2015

Warner Bros unveils gaming and toy line called Lego Dimensions; Lego will sell collectible movie-character mini-figures, which Dimensions players can use in Warner-published video game. MORE

Mar. 29, 2015

Natasha Singer Technophoria column examines new crop of toys from companies like Mattel that will use software and web connections to communicate verbally with children; observes that while technology could help children engage in complex dialogue, it has also raised privacy concerns. MORE

Mar. 13, 2015

LeapFrog, leading maker of educational toys and games, has seen its sales fall more than 40 percent in 2014, hit by increasing competition from less expensive alternatives; parents can buy educational game apps for their smartphones and tablets, instead of spending more money on LeapFrog's specialized system. MORE

Feb. 14, 2015

Toymakers prepare to show their latest offerings at Toy Fair 2015 in New York; most popular toys are those based on blockbuster Hollywood films, and upcoming movies with toy tie-ins include Jurassic World, Cinderella and Avengers: Age of Ultron; industry insiders admit in a season packed with action movies, it can be difficult to make certain new toys stand out. MORE

Feb. 5, 2015

Desktop tchotchkes without any functional use, known as 'executive toys,' are as popular as ever in digital age, despite shrinking personal workspaces and distractions offered by computers. MORE

Feb. 2, 2015

Sex toy industry is anticipating big sales with Valentine's Day premiere of Universal Pictures' Fifty Shades of Grey; movie is based on book which spurred sales of sex-themed products; some in adult entertainment industry say sex toys account for $1 billion and $2 billion in sales annually. MORE

Jan. 27, 2015

Mattel chief executive Bryan G Stockton resigns as traditional toy sales, including those of its storied Barbie brand, topple in face of tough competition, including digital products; Christopher A Sinclair is named interim chief executive; firm reports preliminary fourth-quarter profit of $149.9 million, down from $369.2 million in year-ago quarter; revenue fell 7 percent. MORE

Dec. 25, 2014

GoldieBlox, toy company that makes engineering-based sets of blocks for girls, releases animated promotional video online; company hopes video will recapture success of earlier video it released in November and will help build up company from small start-up. MORE

Dec. 21, 2014

Jay Caspian Kang First column submits that legislation aimed at expanding laws mandating bright orange markings on replica guns will do little to prevent incidents like fatal police shooting of Tamir Rice in Cleveland; says children will continue to remove such markings, and suggests that focus on regulation serves to excise deaths of Rice and John Crawford III from the larger conversation on race and policing. MORE

Dec. 19, 2014

Office of New York State Atty Gen Eric T Schneiderman warns major retailers to mind state law banning sale of realistic-looking toy guns unless they have orange stripe on barrel. MORE

Dec. 13, 2014

Lego reissues Research Institute, limited-edition set of women working in a laboratory, after supplies quickly sell out. MORE

Dec. 11, 2014

Gadgetwise column; roundup of noteworthy devices and toys from gadget makers that will keep children entertained and parents happy. MORE

Nov. 27, 2014

Alternative, non-digital toys are in high demand this holiday season as parents attempt to ween their children from excessive time spent in front of screens; trend has given rise to a resurgence of demand for retro toys, as well as those involving building, education and arts and crafts. MORE

Nov. 27, 2014

Farhad Manjoo State of the Art column examines rise of internet-connected toys that threaten to overrun much of the traditional mass-manufactured toy business; observes that companies like Wonder Workshop are developing toys that will acquire new capabilities over time, blend education and recreation, and most importantly reduce the amount of time children spend in front of screens. MORE

Nov. 22, 2014

Nintendo expands its playbook by releasing video game Super Smash Bros and collection of toy figurines that will interact with the game; move reflects company's need for new sales hit and addresses calls for it to move more aggressively into new product areas. MORE

Nov. 11, 2014

McDonald's is recalling Hello Kitty-themed whistle given to children in Happy meals after reports that two children coughed out pieces of the toy that they had sucked into their mouths. MORE

Aug. 22, 2014

Lego's new Research Institute toy set, which portrays three female scientists in their respective labs, sells out in under a month, testifying to demand for toys featuring women in a professional setting; company produced set following viral popularity of a letter from a little girl begging company to produce more realistic options for girls. MORE

Aug. 14, 2014

Ceramics artists James Klein and David Reid of KleinReid have created solid brass tops, inspired by Eameses' collection of the toys, selling for $138 each; tops can also be used as paperweights or ring stands. MORE

Aug. 11, 2014

Test batch of small stuffed toys called Tsum Tsum, already a hit in Japan, has sold out in some Disney Stores in the United States, and the company wonders if it has found the next Beanie Baby; Disney is rushing to restock and expand line to all of its stores. MORE

Jul. 27, 2014

Blockbuster success of merchandise based on Doc McStuffins cartoon seems to be setting a record as best-selling toy line based on African-American character; $500 million in sales in 2013 reflects in part nation's changing consumer demographics, with more children from minority backgrounds providing expanding, less segregated marketplace but also shows crossover appeal, as demographic for toy line is the broadest possible. MORE

Jul. 21, 2014

Hasbro plans to announce partnership with 3-D printing company Shapeways to sell fan art inspired by My Little Pony toy line; many other companies and large retailers are exploring ways they can use 3-D printing and printers to attract consumers. MORE

Jul. 19, 2014

Mattel is creating direct-to-consumer program to sell premium Wooden Railway line of Thomas products through catalogs and website; toy company hopes program will tap into passion that children and parents have for brand's characters and story. MORE

Jul. 18, 2014

Consumer Product Safety Commission issues formal child-safety recall for Buckyballs, powerfully magnetic stacking balls, following two-year battle; consumers will have a six-month window to apply for refunds; Craig Zucker, former head of manufacturer Maxfield & Oberton Holdings, will be personally liable for an estimated $57 million in recall costs. MORE

Jun. 29, 2014

Slip ’N Slide was invented by boat-seating upholsterer Robert D Carrier in summer of 1960 after he came home to find his 10-year-old-son and his friend sliding down wet concrete driveway. MORE

Jun. 2, 2014

Amazon and Mattel are teaming up to sell merchandise for cartoon Fireman Sam, potentially controversial experiment that, if successful, could create new model for marrying television shows with related merchandise. MORE

Apr. 8, 2014

To some artists and architects, the Lego brick might just be the perfect object. MORE

Mar. 23, 2014

Toy makers have begun marketing a more aggressive line of playthings and weaponry for girls, inspired by a succession of female warrior heroes in blockbuster movies. MORE

Feb. 6, 2014

Chinese luxury department store Lane Crawford has commissioned Squint Limited to make group of rocking horses in honor of Year of the Wood Horse; horses are available on Squint's website for $3,255. MORE

Jan. 20, 2014

Hasbro, maker of convertible toy robots known as Transformers, unveils new streamlined look for the toy line on its 30th anniversary; remake, which includes new branding and packaging, is meant to coincide with Paramount Pictures' release of movie Transformers: Age of Extinction, fourth film in franchise based on the product. MORE

Dec. 24, 2013

Many parents with children between the ages of 2 and 10 are buying them tablets, smartphones and other devices for holiday season gifts, while the toy industry stalls; retro toys, however, are resurgent, as nostalgia can be powerful tool for retailers. MORE

Dec. 22, 2013

Download interview with Debbie Sterling, founder and chief executive of GoldieBlox, toy company dedicated to encouraging girls' interest in engineering and construction; Sterling offers recommendations for books and other forms of entertainment. MORE

Dec. 12, 2013

Gadgetwise blog; Swappz Interactive creates mobile game that allows a toy to be scanned and then used as a character in the game. MORE

Dec. 5, 2013

Gadgetwise blog; Hess Corp's annual Holiday Toy Truck is a $28 flat-bed truck that hauls a bulldozer and interacts with video game app. MORE

Nov. 30, 2013

Good Housekeeping spends all year finding and reviewing toys, a process integral to the magazine’s overall business strategy. MORE

Nov. 28, 2013

Product designer Gauri Nanda discusses how she developed Toymail, miniature plastic mailboxes with animal faces that can play messages sent from phones and record children's messages. MORE

Nov. 20, 2013

The complicated Rube Goldberg machine in a viral video ad from a start-up toy company called GoldieBlox has a simple goal: to show girls that being an engineer is cool. MORE

Nov. 1, 2013

Several business and free-market legal groups have launched social media campaign to raise legal-defense money for Craig Zucker, chief executive of dissolved company Maxfield & Oberton, after federal regulators decided to hold Zucker personally responsible for recall of popular magnetic toy Buckyballs. MORE

Oct. 10, 2013

Gadgetwise blog; Big Hugs Elmo, first life-size doll from Hasbro, is for children age 18 months to 4 years; doll can sing a lullaby or pretend he is an astronaut or a rabbit, but all he really wants is a hug. MORE

Sep. 26, 2013

Gadgetwise blog; LeapFrog's new device, the LeapReader, is an electronic pen that sounds out letters and words in LeapFrog books and teaches children how to write them. MORE

Sep. 19, 2013

Gadgetwise blog; tiny Bonzart Lit toy digital camera, despite its cuteness, can help you make some compelling images. MORE